Kim Jong-in Visits Single Mother Facility, Sparks Controversy with "No Normal Mothers" Remark

On the afternoon of the 9th, Kim Jong-in, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, visited a welfare facility for single and single-parent families in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, and received an explanation about the current situation. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Choyoung] On the 9th, Kim Jong-in, Emergency Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, visited a facility for unmarried and single-parent families and sparked controversy by saying about unmarried mothers with mental illness or intellectual disabilities, "There don't seem to be many normal mothers." Kim's remarks are expected to have significant repercussions as they reveal discriminatory views and social stigma against people with mental disabilities.

On the same day, Kim visited Aeranwon, a welfare facility for unmarried and single-parent families located in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, along with Lee Jong-bae, Policy Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, and Kim Mi-ae, Chairwoman of the 'Walking with the Vulnerable' committee of the same party, to inspect the site and hear about operational difficulties such as staffing and project funding.

Started in 1960 as Eunhye House, Aeranwon was established by Eleanor C. Vanlierop, an American Presbyterian missionary, and currently supports the living and upbringing of 36 unmarried pregnant women and their children as a welfare facility for unmarried mothers and children.

Kang Young-sil, Director of Aeranwon, appealed to Chairman Kim, saying, "There are many mothers who are mentally challenged or intellectually disabled, and mothers who are poor and unable to become independent, so we help all mothers, without discrimination, to become self-reliant in the community," adding, "To protect those who are not accepted by general unmarried mother facilities, support measures for staffing and project funding are necessary."

In response, Chairman Kim empathized with the difficulties faced by unmarried mothers, saying, "There are many cases where the mother who gave birth to the child is more problematic. When managing children in the facility..."

Director Kang then stated, "Many of those reported in the news for child abuse come from single-parent families, but since there are no enforcement rules for the single-parent welfare counseling center, nothing is being done. It would be good to establish laws or enforcement rules to provide a basis for services."

To this, Chairman Kim said, "There don't seem to be many normal mothers in this facility," adding, "Children need to be properly cared for and raised normally, but in the case of (unmarried mothers), proper childcare seems difficult." He further explained, "(Unmarried mothers) are in a very mentally vulnerable state, so it would be hard to raise children well."

This has led some to criticize that the remarks reflect a discriminatory perspective toward unmarried mothers and people with mental disabilities, being trapped in the concept of a 'normal family.'

Following the controversy, a People Power Party official explained to a media outlet, "The remarks came up during a discussion about mothers in the facility who have intellectual disabilities and find it difficult to raise children," adding, "It was not intended to say that unmarried mothers are abnormal."